Cattle
Detecting and Treating Lump Jaw in Cattle
Lump jaw in cattle is a bacterial infection of the jawbone. Bacteria are often present in the mouth of cattle, so anything that punctures the mouth tissues may open the way for infection, which can lead to lump jaw.
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Artificial Insemination is No Bull (Literally)
Most homesteaders dream of having their own cow to provide fresh milk and dairy products for the whole family. The challenge is, a milk cow must become pregnant before she can lactate, and that means you’re going to need a bull—unless you use artificial insemination (AI).
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Dealing with Diphtheria in Calves
Diphtheria in calves is generally more serious — and more noticeable — than in adult cattle. Diphtheria is an upper respiratory disease and is an infection and/ or inflammation of the vocal folds of the larynx (voice box) at the back of the throat.
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Feeding Dairy Calves
The most important thing for feeding dairy calves is to get colostrum as soon as possible into a newborn calf. After that, the calf needs adequate milk or milk replacer until weaning age.
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Burdock Slivers Can Cause Eye Irritations
Eye problems in livestock and horses can be caused by foreign material in the eye, and one of the most challenging problems is burdock slivers. Burrs from this invasive weed stick to hair or clothing.
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Minimizing Heat Stress in Cattle
Minimizing heat stress in cattle can make the difference between life and death in your herd. Hot weather, especially if it’s humid, can be hard on cattle, and they may be at risk for heatstroke.
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Miniature Cattle May be a Good Fit for a Small Farm
Many families on a small farm enjoy having livestock but don’t have a lot of land for pasture. With only one or two acres, you might be able to keep one standard-size milk cow or a couple of calves to grow for beef.
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Selecting the Best Dairy Cow Breed
When selecting a family milk cow or choosing from the best dairy cow breeds to start a small dairy, there are a number of options. The most “ideal” breed will be one that best suits your own situation and purpose.
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Safely Castrating Calves
The best age and method for castrating calves may vary, depending on your situation. Some stockmen feel that a calf should be allowed to grow all summer before being castrated, since calves grow faster as bulls.
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Raising British White Cattle for Flavorful Meat
From setting up on his own from scratch, “straight out of school and from virtually nothing,” Yorkshire, England, farmer Andrew Fisher has come a long way—and so have his British White cattle.
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Raising Highland Cattle for Beef
“As cute as they look, that is as good as they taste.” That statement is something I live by.
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Preventing and Treating Cattle Scours in Calves
The most common illness in young calves is cattle scours (diarrhea). There are many causes, including intestinal infection because of bacteria, viruses, or protozoa.
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The Joy of Raising Highland Cattle
Add to Favorites Story & Photos By Tom Fuller – Cattle have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and Highland cattle are by far …
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Tips on Properly Giving Cattle Injections
Cattle injections are often necessary — vaccines, antibiotics, injectable vitamins, scours, etc. These should always be administered properly to be effective, minimize residues in the meat if the animal will be butchered later, minimize injection site lesions, and reduce the risks for adverse reactions.
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How to Start a Cattle Farm on Small Acreage
Learning how to start a cattle farm throws you into the deep end of the homesteading pool. Cattle are large beasts and require strong fencing, water, grazing land or feed and a plan.
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